In a dramatic turn in Karnataka’s most explosive political scandal, former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has been convicted of raping a domestic worker at his family’s farmhouse in Holenarasipura, Hassan. The verdict was delivered by Special Court Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, who will announce the quantum of punishment on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Case Summary
- Victim: A 48-year-old domestic worker employed at the Gannikada farmhouse
- Allegations: Raped twice in 2021—once in Hassan and once in Bengaluru during the COVID lockdown
- Evidence: The assaults were allegedly recorded on Revanna’s mobile phone
- Conviction Date: August 1, 2025
- Sentencing Date: August 2, 2025
The Hassan Pen Drive Scandal
- In April 2024, over 2,000 explicit videos allegedly featuring Revanna surfaced in Hassan, triggering public outrage and a political firestorm
- A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Karnataka government to probe the allegations
- The SIT identified around 70 women, but only four filed formal complaints
Political Fallout
- Revanna, grandson of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, was suspended from JD(S) and lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Hassan by over 40,000 votes
- His father, HD Revanna, and other family members were also implicated in related cases, including kidnapping and intimidation
- Revanna fled to Germany after the scandal broke and was arrested upon his return on May 31, 2024
Legal Proceedings
- The chargesheet spanned four volumes, including forensic video evidence
- The Supreme Court rejected Revanna’s bail plea in November 2024, citing his influence and potential to harm the trial.
